Despite growing anticipation that South Africa’s long-awaited AARTO demerit system for traffic offences would kick in this June, the City of Cape Town has squashed the rumour mill, confirming the new system will only come into effect on 1 October 2025.
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO), a national initiative led by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, aims to shake up the country’s road rules. Central to the system is a demerit points structure, which could see drivers’ licences suspended or even cancelled after repeated offences.
But not just yet.
According to City of Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout, “While discussions indicate that AARTO is effective today, 5 June 2025, the City can confirm that the implementation date has in fact been moved out to 1 October this year.”
This comes as confusion continues to swirl across news platforms and social media, with many road users believing the system had already gone live.
The City is now working to clear the air.
“The AARTO system is expected to introduce significant changes to driving laws in the country,” Bezuidenhout added. “It will also be responsible for the administration, collection and adjudication of fines related to road traffic offences.”
Once implemented, AARTO will apply nationwide, replacing the current Criminal Procedure Act-based traffic fine system in most municipalities.
For now, however, the existing system stays in place, and South African drivers can breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
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